News to Know

Link below to see the current update on the damage and recovery process at Ft De Soto County Park.

https://www.wfla.com/news/pinellas-county/park-manager-shows-catastrophic-damage-to-ft-desoto-park-details-recovery-efforts/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: Marc Portugal

Public Information Officer

City of St. Pete Beach

312.371.2660

mportugal@stpetebeach.org

St. Pete Beach Announces Waiver of Permit Fees

for Storm-Related Repairs to Homes and Businesses

November 7, 2024, ST. PETE BEACH, FL – Based on the direction from the City Commission, The

City of St. Pete Beach has authorized an immediate waiver on 100% of the fees for storm-related

work permits. This applies to both residential and commercial permits.

Permit fee waivers began on Wednesday November 6th, 2024, and are retroactive to October 1st,

2024. The waivers will last through Tuesday January 14, 2025. At that time, the City Commission will

meet and evaluate the possibility of extending the waiver.

From City Manager Frances Robustelli: “The City Commission and city leadership believes that

waiving storm-related permit fees is a critical step to help facilitate the recovery process for our

residents and businesses.”

The city is also processing permit fee reimbursements retroactively, as well, which shall be received

in the same method as originally transacted (credit card, check, etc.)

For more information on permitting processes and FEMA packets on Substantial

Improvement/Substantial Damage, visit the City of St. Pete Beach website here: Post Storm

Specific FAQs | St. Pete Beach, FL

###

Good day!

 

Well, we have been in Milton recovery for a few weeks now and continue to work our way forward.  People have been going through their belongings, cleaning out their homes, working with insurance, applying for FEMA assistance and now some may be ready to start to work on repairing their homes.   You may or may not have heard recently mentions of the Substantial Damage Rule. It is EXTREMELY important for you to please read the information provided in this link Pinellas.gov/sdsi to familiarize yourself with the Substantial Damage Rule, what the guidelines are and how you will move forward.    The information that is being provided is for citizens living within unincorporated Pinellas County.  Should you be reading this email and live within a city limit, please contact your city of residence. 

 

Once you read over the information and you live in a flood hazard area within unincorporated Pinellas, you can call the Pinellas County Building Department at 727-464-3888 or sdinspection@pinellas.gov to request a substantial damage inspection.

 

Should you have additional questions, the Building Department if fully versed and would be best to contact.  You may contact BDRS at 727-464-3888, by email at buildingpermits@pinellas.gov (if it has to do with storm damage permitting) or sdinspection@pinellas.gov if it has to do with substantial damage inspections.

 

I hope you find this information helpful.  I will continue to provide you with information I believe could be helpful to you.

 

Stacy O’Donnell Executive Aide, Commissioner Dave Eggers Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756 sodonnell@pinellas.gov Office (727) 464-3276

UPDATE ON HURRICANES HELENE AND MILTON

FUNDRAISER

FINAL REACH OUT FOR TBFB’S GOAL OF $2000.00

 First and foremost, Tampa Bay Free Beaches is hoping you all are unharmed and recovering from the past 2 storms which have hit many of our members and friends hard. Things are slowly coming back to a semblance of normalcy, and we must not lose track of our mission. *

 As of 10/28/2024 we have raised $1580.00 to help those in need. Many have lost their jobs in the beach industry due to the destruction of the on-shore flooding. This fund will assist those out-of-work employees. We thank all who have given so generously from their hearts and their billfolds to help those affected by the storms. Any donation, whether large or small, would be wonderful. * We will continue this fundraiser until the end of October.

Thank You Thank You Thank You Thank You. *

“HELPING THOSE IN NEED”

Tampa Bay Free Beaches (TBFB) has a long and storied history of providing philanthropic community support. Examples include work during the COVID pandemic and more recently a collaboration with CASA in St. Petersburg who provides invaluable assistance to domestic abuse survivors in Pinellas County.

All these efforts and initiatives are successful solely because of the financial and material support of our membership and allies. Now, TBFB needs you again.

Hurricanes Helene and Milton roared past our communities leaving scores of our friends and neighbors in desperate shape. TBFB will ba adding to the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber's efforts to raise funds for those out of work employees. A donation like this shows our strong relationship and support for the coastal community that we are now a partner with.

Contributions can be made as follows:

1. Mailed to TBFB Hurricane Assistance, c/o Jack Clark, Treasurer of TBFB, 1705 Dorothy Blvd, Lutz, FL 33558

2. Go to: www.tampabayfreebeaches.org. select “donations”. In the “Comment Box”, please be sure to indicate that the funds are for “Hurricane Helene Assistance”.

3. We can arrange VENMO, PAYPAL, etc. Also, you may email jack@tampabayfreebeaches.org with any questions or concerns.

Tampa Bay Free Beaches thanks you all for your continued support of our Ft. DeSoto East Beach mission. We remain on track and things are moving forward as hoped and planned. Let’s take a brief break from that, however, to rally together to help those in need, many of whom have supported us privately, publicly and politically to help us move our mission forward.

Thank you so much,

Tampa Bay Free Beaches

Dear Industry Partners,

The beautiful weather this past week reminds us why we love this place we call home. With clear skies and the sun shining upon us once more, I wanted to personally reach out to you with a sense of gratitude and unwavering optimism. With so many challenges in our rearview mirror and some still in front of us, our foundation remains stronger than ever, and our community continues to show the resilience and strength that defines us.

As we continue to see more and more of our destination return to action, Visit St. Pete-Clearwater remains committed to promoting and shining a spotlight on our beloved destination. In fact, I am sending you this note from the heart of London in the U.K. as St. Pete-Clearwater has brought the sunshine to Brand USA's Travel Week. As part of our trip to continue to retain and further develop key international markets, we will also take part in special events with key travel tour operators and media in Amsterdam to celebrate the return of Delta Air Line’s seasonal flight from Amsterdam to Tampa International Airport starting this Saturday. This route will bring even more international visitors to our destination and provide a bridge to major cities throughout Europe to our destination.

In addition to our international efforts, your VisitSPC team has also been around the U.S. making sure meeting planners, tour operators, media, and potential visitors know we are open for business. This past weekend we made a strong presence at the NYC Wine & Food Festival, a fantastic opportunity to amplify our destination’s culinary offerings.

Additionally, the team’s planned activities for the month include meeting planner events in Tallahassee, New England and the Bahamas, as well as sales and trade events in Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., Mexico, Brazil and Colombia. These events allow us to connect with valued partners and showcase the unique experiences that St. Pete-Clearwater offers. Our main message to everyone – there is no need to cancel any plans and no need to hesitate about booking a trip to St. Pete-Clearwater. The news coverage of our area that they may have seen on TV or online does not represent our current look, and certainly not the entirety of our eclectic destination.

While much of our destination has been able to re-open their doors quickly, including many of our top attractions, we know our award-winning beaches and waterfront communities, which saw historic storm surge during Hurricane Helene, are in need of a little more time to fully recover. Throughout it all, we look forward to sharing the continued growth of our destination across our social and digital channels with each passing week.

We've weathered the storms, welcomed clear skies and are emerging stronger than ever. Together, we are Still Shining.

Brian Lowack 

The Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections has relocated 25 polling places following the impact of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Despite these changes, Pinellas County voters still have access to the same voting options they are familiar with, including voting by mail, in-person early voting, and voting on Election Day.

“While some adjustments were necessary, voters in Pinellas County can still rely on the voting methods they’ve used in the past,” said Supervisor of Elections Julie Marcus. “Whether you choose to vote by mail, at an early voting site, or on Election Day, you can rest assured that access to the ballot remains constant, and election integrity is paramount.”

(For a complete list of polling place changes, please see at the end of this message)

The Supervisor of Elections implemented extensive contingency plans to ensure minimal disruption to voters. The accessibility and security of voting options remain top priorities. Voters can feel confident that despite any weather-related obstacles, every eligible voter will have the opportunity to cast a ballot.

No changes have been made to early voting or secure mail ballot return locations.

Early Voting: Oct. 21 – Nov. 3, 2024

Early Voting for the November 5 General Election will be held from Monday, Oct. 21, through Sunday, Nov. 3, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Early voting sites include:

• Centre of Palm Harbor, The, 1500 16th St., Palm Harbor, 34683
• Countryside Recreation Center, 2640 Sabal Springs Dr., Clearwater, 33761
• Gulfport Neighborhood Center, 1617 49th St. S., Gulfport, 33707
• J.W. Cate Recreation Center, 5801 22nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg, 33710
• Supervisor of Elections Office, 501 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg, 33701 (Entrance on 5th St.)
• Supervisor of Elections Office, Pinellas County Courthouse, 315 Court St., Rm. 117, Clearwater, 33756 (First Floor, North Side)
• Supervisor of Elections Office, Election Service Center, 13001 Starkey Rd., Largo, 33773 (Starkey Lakes Corporate Center)

Voting by Mail

The deadline to request a mail ballot is 5 p.m. on Oct. 24, 2024. For mail ballot requests, please call 727-464-VOTE (8683).

Returning Mail Ballots

Mail ballots can be returned at one of 21 secure ballot return locations across Pinellas County between Oct. 21 and Nov. 3. Voters can find hours and locations on VotePinellas.gov or in the mail ballot kit. Ballots may also be returned to any of the three Supervisor of Elections Offices between now and Nov. 5. Please note, mail ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Important Reminders

• If you have not received your mail ballot, call us at 727-464-VOTE (8683) or check VotePinellas.gov/CheckMyMailBallotStatus.
• Voted mail ballots cannot be accepted at polling places on Election Day. However, voters may surrender their mail ballot at the polling place and vote in person instead.

Voters choosing to vote on Election Day should anticipate longer lines at polling places due to a long ballot and disruptions caused by the hurricanes. For a complete list of polling place adjustments and additional election information, please visit VotePinellas.gov or see the attached PDF.

For hurricane-specific information, visit VotePinellas.gov/Hurricane.

###

 

 

Ashley McKnight-Taylor

Communications Director

Representing Julie Marcus, Supervisor of Elections

13001 Starkey Rd., Largo, FL 33773

(727) 453-7553

ATaylor@VotePinellas.gov

Find us on Facebook ~ Follow us @VotePinellas

 

Under Florida law, email addresses are public records. If you do not want your email address released in response to a public-records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing. -- F.S. 668.6076

Conforme a la legislación de Florida, las direcciones de correo electrónico son registros públicos. Si no desea que su correo electrónico se divulgue como respuesta a una solicitud de registros públicos, no envíe un correo electrónico a esta entidad. En su lugar, póngase en contacto con esta oficina por teléfono o por escrito. -- F.S. 668.6076

Good day everyone!

 

I don’t know about anyone else but I am thrilled with some actual Fall like weather.  If we are dealing with no power, cutting, picking up, raking, trimming, pulling, dragging whatever, it sure makes it a tad more bearable to be doing it in temps in the 60’s versus the mid 90’s.  It is a bright spot along our road to recovery.  Below is information I thought might be of interest or beneficial to you.

 

Feeding Tampa Bay

Please visit their website https://feedingtampabay.org/ways-we-serve/disaster-relief the information is updated daily.  They are offering food distribution events as well as food pantries .

 

 

Pinellas Update: Operation Blue Roof assistance available for residents with roof damage

 

Pinellas County residents with roof damage from Hurricane Milton can get a temporary blue tarp to prevent further damage by signing up for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA’s Operation Blue Roof program through Tuesday, Nov. 5.

 

Impacted residents can sign up online at BlueRoof.gov or by calling at 888-ROOF-BLU (888-766-3258). You will need a driver’s license or other proof of residency.

 

This program is for primary residences or a permanently occupied rental property with less than 50% structural damage. Vacation rental properties are not eligible for this program. Roofs that are flat or made of metal or clay, slate, or asbestos tile do not qualify. The roof must be standard roof shingles, or similar material that will allow contractors to nail the tarp in place. Contractors will consider repairs to metal roofs and mobile homes on a case-by-case basis and will install the cover if possible.

 

Operation Blue Roof will remove homeowner tarps installed and minor debris to allow for proper installation. Any large items of debris, such as a tree, must be removed from the roof by the homeowner to be eligible for the program.

 

For more information on Operation Blue Roof, visit BlueRoof.gov. Stay up to date on Pinellas County storm recovery efforts at disaster.pinellas.gov.

 

 

Insurance Village

 

An insurance village is operating at the Long Center at 1501 N. Belcher in Clearwater is open where insurance agencies can help residents navigate filing insurance claims for damaged property.

 

Cooling Centers

 

A list of cooling center locations is available at www.disaster.pinellas.gov.

 

Fuel Distribution Sites

 

FDEM has opened public fuel distribution sites.  Additional information can be found at www.floridadisaster.org/disaster-updates/Hurricanemilton.

 

 

US Small Business Administration

 

The US Small Business Administration is offering low interest physical damage and economic injury loans.  Residents and businesses can visit www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance to apply and can contact disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or call 1-800-659-2955 for assistance.

 

 

Discounted Rides

 

Lyft has activated the Lyft Up Disaster Response Program to provide free and discounted rides to help those in affected areas travel to and from designated shelters with critical resources. Riders can use code MILTONRELIEF24 for two rides up to $25 to and from state-approved shelters.

 

 

Florida Commerce – Unemployment Assistance

 

Florida Commerce has opened Disaster Unemployment Assistance that helps people who lose their job as a direct result of a declared disaster. For more information visit floridajobs.org.

 

 

There is a lot more information available daily at www.disaster.pinellas.gov

 

 

 

 

Stacy O’Donnell Executive Aide, Commissioner Dave Eggers Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756 sodonnell@pinellas.gov Office (727) 464-3276   All government correspondence is subject to public record law.

TampaBayBeaches.com/HurricaneResources has been fully updated with all FEMA documents/information, SBA (residential and business), general business information, and a list of open businesses.

If you are not an ACTIVE member of the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber and you would like to continue to receive important updates and benefits; email Robin@tampabaybeaches.com
We have a variety of options to help the business community in these difficult times.

DEBRIS: The debris collection continues and will continue for quite some time.  Each day we are making progress.

PERMITTING:  Each beach community has different hours and processes for their building permitting.  Please go to your city's website to locate this information.  
Treasure Island: https://www.mytreasureisland.org/news_detail_T13_R219.php
St. Pete Beach:  https://stpetebeach.org/813/Post-Helene-Milton-Recovery-Updates
Madeira Beach:   mgoconnect.org/cp/portal (permit fees waived)
Redington Beach:  (partner with Redington Shores)
Redington Shores: https://townofredingtonshores.com/
North Redington Beach:  Using SafeBuilt (17985 Gulf Boulevard)
Indian Rocks Beach: https://www.indian-rocks-beach.com/residential-information/permit-information/
Indian Shores:  permits@myindianshores.com.
Belleair:  https://www.townofbelleair.com/401/Building
Belleair Bluffs:  https://www.belleairbluffs.org/permits.aspx

-Robin Miller, CEO
727.385.7686

We wanted to respect your prep and evacuations, but also provide some final communication.  Thank you to those who have followed the orders.

We will spend this "wait time" developing recovery protocols and resources for all of you.  I assure you we will provide as much as we can to fulfill the needs of the barrier islands.

IMPORTANT NOTES: (If you did not leave, I hope you did!! Please know you will lose electricity, potable water on barrier islands, and in some islands sewage use.)

FROM PINELLAS COUNTY:

The public is NOT allowed to cross the bridges once they are closed and should NOT cross the bridges, even if there are no physical barriers or officers there.

• Sunshine Skyway Bridge –closed when sustained wind speeds exceed 45 mph. Based on that, transportation officials anticipate a closure of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge by Wednesday afternoon.
• Howard Frankland and Gandy bridges are monitored by FHP. FDOT is notified when water is on the roads leading to the bridge. FDOT closese bridges when FHP deems it necessary for safety. Transportation officials anticipate this may become necessary by Wednesday afternoon. 
• Courtney Campbell Causeway – This bridge is monitored by the Tampa Police Department and the Clearwater Police Department. FDOT works with these agencies to close this bridge when the water gets close to the approaches and makes it dangerous to drive. Officials anticipate this Causeway may close by Wednesday afternoon.

*Locked bridges are closed per Pinellas: https://pinellas.gov/news/pinellas-countys-three-movable-bridges-to-be-locked-at-12-p-m-tuesday/

Authorities will reopen the bridges as soon as it is safe to do so, Check www.FL511.com for more info.
 
BARRIER ISLANDS:  Are closed!!

PLAN RECOVERY:  Think about what you need and should do to post-storm.  Build your resource list now. www.tampabaybeaches.com will be updated often. We are here for you.

Charge your devices.  We will update you after the storm passes, unless otherwise necessary.

(Yes I am safe thank you to those who have asked. Our team is anxious to help each of you.

Stay Safe,
Robin, Roxanne, Tina & Alex (and our board of directors)
Here for you and your community.
727.385.7686
 

Good morning everyone:

 

As we all know hurricane Milton is coming and I hope everyone has made preparation for themselves and their loved ones.  You should be in your safe place or completing last minute details.  Hopefully, everyone is prepared as we can be.

 

Evacuations - Shelters

 

Mandatory evacuation orders remain in effect for all residents, mobile homes, long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities and hospitals in evacuation zones A, B and C countywide as well as mobile homes.    PLEASE, PLEASE if you are in an evacuation zone, EVACUATE to a hotel, friends, family or shelter in a non-evacuation zone. 

 

Ten public shelters are open, including specific shelters for people with special needs or pets. Three additional shelters are opening at 9:30 a.m. today with plenty of space, including Palm Harbor Middle School in Palm Harbor, New Heights Elementary and Fairmount Park Elementary, both in St. Petersburg.

The State of Florida is offering free shuttles to shelters. Reservations are not required. Times and locations can be found at FloridaDisaster.org/Updates (see “Evacuation Assistance”). Call 800-729-3413 for more information.

 

During and After a Storm

As a storm approaches and gains strength, there will come a point in time when it is no longer safe to evacuate and everyone will need to shelter in place. Once winds reach 40 to 50 mph conditions, responders will not be able to respond to emergencies. If you choose to shelter in your home instead of evacuating, you must be prepared to react to certain dangers. Here are some things you can do to keep you and your family safe during and after a storm.

During the Storm

If floodwater starts coming into your home:

Do not go outside and wade through the water. Floodwater and storm surge can move very quickly, and live power lines could be hidden in the water. Stay inside. Stand or sit off the floor, like on a bed or table. If the water becomes too high, get on your roof if necessary.

If there is a tornado or high sustained winds:

Get to the lowest level of your home and take shelter in an interior room without windows, like a closet or hallway. Lie on the floor under a table or other sturdy object if you cannot make it to a safe room. Curl up and cover your head with a mattress or another item.

If you are outside, seek shelter in a sturdy building. If you cannot get to a safe building, find a low area like a ditch. Lay down and protect your head. Do not take shelter under a highway bridge or overpass.

If the power goes out for up to six hours:

Move perishable foods from the refrigerator into an ice-filled cooler. Put a thermometer in the cooler to make sure it stays below 40 degrees. Meats and other perishable foods above 40 degrees will spoil after two hours.

If the power stays out for up to two days:

Food in the freezer can be stored safely for two days if you keep the freezer door shut. Once the storm passes, cook any unspoiled food outside and consider sharing with your neighbors. Beyond two days, you will need nonperishable food. Learn more about food safety.

If the water supply is affected:

Monitor the news for boil water advisories, which tell you if there is a possibility of contamination. Under a boil water advisory, you can disinfect the water using these methods:

• Boiling: Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil for one minute to ensure bacteria, viruses or parasites are gone.
• Bleaching: Add 1/8 teaspoon of unscented bleach per gallon of water and let stand for 30 minutes. Use bleach that contains 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite. Bleaching is less effective than boiling, but will work if there is no way to boil water.

If there is a sewer outage:

Do not flush your toilet if a sewage outage is announced. Flushing could cause sewage to backup into your home. Use a portable toilet, like one used on a boat or camper, or set one up by using one of the following methods:

• Line a five-gallon bucket with a heavy-duty trash bag. Make sure the bucket has a tight lid. Use household bleach as a disinfectant.
• Turn off your outside water supply. Empty the water from the toilet bowl, and line the empty bowl with a heavy-duty trash bag.

Do not use cat litter. It cannot be flushed after the sewer system is running. When you learn that the sewer is operating again, dump the contents of your emergency toilet into your household toilet and flush. Thoroughly sanitize your emergency toilet with bleach before storing or disposing. Bleach can be used as a disinfectant for cleaning by mixing nine parts of water to one part bleach.

If phone, cable and cell service is down:

• Use a battery- or crank-powered radio. Radio broadcasts are usually the last communication source to go down, and AM stations can broadcast longer than FM. Severe weather alerts are also transmitted through the NOAA Weather Alert Radio.
• Texting messaging may work when other services do not. If your phone’s digital clock works, then you can send and receive texts. Social media and mobile apps may be working as well.
• Keep your phone and other devices charged. Use your back-up battery charger and solar-battery chargers. Use a vehicle to to charge your devices. If you have power and your neighbors don’t, invite them to recharge their devices.

 

I will continue to provide information as I can.  Thank you and please remain safe

 

 

 

Stacy O’Donnell Executive Aide, Commissioner Dave Eggers Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756 sodonnell@pinellas.gov Office (727) 464-3276   All government correspondence is subject to public record law.